Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has expressed surprise over the fact Philip Wilson is yet to quit his position as Adelaide Catholic Archbishop.
Wilson was sentenced to 12 months in jail on Tuesday for concealing child sexual abuse within the church. A court appearance in August will determine whether Wilson can serve his time in home detention.
Wilson said back in May he would “consult closely with my lawyers to determine the next steps” after he was found guilty.
“I am surprised he’s not resigned already, given the outcome of the case,” Mr Turnbull said on Wednesday.
Advocate Peter Gogarty said he was “pleased Mr Turnbull’s shown leadership on this issue”.
“I think he’s probably reflecting the views of a huge percentage of the population,” Mr Gogarty said.
“I’d urge other politicians to follow suit.”
“Name any other organisation or institution where somebody could be convicted for an offence like this and continue in their position. It’s like a banker being convicted of fraud but thinking he could still remain state manager.”
BREAKING: Prime Minister @TurnbullMalcolm has called for the resignation of Adelaide Catholic Archbishop Philip Wilson for concealing the crimes of a priest who was a child-sex offender https://t.co/BnHUbqj9lk
— The Age (@theage) July 4, 2018
